Music-related books are a subject that's near and dear to my heart, and we have quite a confluence of book events coming up over the next few weeks. It starts tonight, and the schedule goes like this:

"The Girls Guide To Rocking" (7:00 tonight, Nightlight/Chapel Hill) -- Author Jessica Hopper will read from her book, a how-to guide on starting a band, aimed at girls ages 10 to 16; and then all-girl bands Pink Flag, Ghost Bees and Katie Stelmanis will play.

"A Fortunate Age" (3:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Bull's Head Bookshop, UNC-Chapel Hill; 7 p.m. Sept. 10, Regulator/Durham; 2 p.m. Sept. 11, McIntyre's/Pittsboro; 12:20 p.m. Sept. 12, NC Literary Festival, UNC-Chapel Hill) -- Various local reference points figure into Joanna Smith Rakoff's novel, including Merge Records. She'll give a whirlwind series of readings throughout the Triangle.

"Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues" (1:30 p.m. Sept. 13, NC Literary Festival, UNC-Chapel Hill; 7 p.m. Oct. 29, Regulator/Durham) -- The book's publication date isn't until November, but author Bill Ferris will give previews at these events.

"Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, The Indie Label That Got Big and Stayed Small" (7 p.m. Sept. 15, Regulator/Durham; 3:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Bull's Head Bookshop/Chapel Hill; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17, Quail Ridge/Raleigh) -- Merge co-owners Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance will discuss the history of their record label, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary last month.